Barcelona dressing room ‘turns on Valverde’ after dismal start to season with Frenkie de Jong only player to apologise after Granada defeat
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BARCELONA stars are reportedly beginning to turn on under pressure boss Ernesto Valverde after the Blaugrana suffered a shock 2-0 away defeat at Granada on Saturday night.
Young summer signing Frenkie de Jong was the only player to apologise to supporters for the poor performance after the match - with stalwarts including Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique shunning their disappointed supporters.
And according to , Camp Nou stars are losing faith with the man that has delivered four trophies in two years at the club - including back-to-back La Liga title triumphs.
A source close to the dressing room said: "Something strange is happening. The team is playing without intensity and they're not creating anything."
Valverde's side have now failed to win any of their four away games so far this season - and the former Athletic Bilbao boss admitted he is concerned by the team's form on the road.
He said: "I'm worried because away from home we aren't getting good results. When four away games have gone by, it's a symptom that something isn't too good.
"There are players who arrived late, but we haven't been good, we're not playing well away. We dominated, but we don't turn that into goal-scoring chances."
Goal claim that the visibly dejected ex Ajax starlet Frenkie de Jong was the only Barca star to front up to the supporters at the end of the match - as well as the first player to speak to the media.
Valverde's use of the £65million midfielder has come under the microscope, but the 22-year-old refused to use his position as an excuse.
The Dutchman said: "This [midfield] is a simple position on the pitch and in the next matches I will do better.
"I have to adapt and I have talked with Valverde about football issues and we have watched videos. The coach should not ask me where I prefer to play, as he is the coach and he decides.
"At Ajax and with the national team I played in central midfield, but it is different because we played with a double pivot.
"Against Real Betis and Osasuna I played wider and if I didn't play well then it was my fault. People began to debate about my position, asking if I had to play here or there, and it seemed crazy."
De Jong's respectful comments will be a relief to his manager, especially after the midfield schemer had earlier this week liked an Instagram post demanding for the sacking of Valverde - which he claims was a mistake.
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Barcelona's next match sees the Catalan giants host Villarreal on Tuesday night - before they travel to Getafe on Saturday looking to arrest their recent away slump.
Sources close to club president Jose Maria Bartomeu have told ESPN that the Barca bigwig is not 'someone who loses his nerve or makes impulsive decisions'. The five-time Champions League winners' fortunes will, however, have to improve sooner rather than later for Valverde to feel comfortable in his job.